I ran into a set back in the Website Upgrade about a week ago.  I was working to include a dynamic css menu system that would automatically update every time I added a page into my content management system.

I compared several different tools and pulled the trigger on CSS Menu Writer a Dreamweaver extension.

To make a long story short, the software did not do what I expected nor did it do much of anything the way I expected it to do it!

That said after essentially walking through one user issue after the next all week long, by the end of the week, I had figured out how the tool actually works, and I had conceived a way to achieve my goal anyway, even though the software isn’t actually designed to make things such as I wanted, easy.

Fortunately, I have some strengths in working with content management systems and databases, and so I was able to compensate for the software programs shortcomings and still use some of its capability to achieve the same result.  So now, I am back off to the races to work to finish migrating the site over into the new system and make up for the week I lost with the wisdom that I gained.

One of my primary goals is to have the new site up and tuned heavily before August when I will fly out to LA and Vegas for back to back conventions.  By the time those events come around, I want to insure that my website is reliable and make the least of my worries be the search for some good hotel deals.

Page Popularity for Site: 17% [?]

Foonz is a new internet service that allows users to establish a free account.  From this Account you can setup a contact list with contacts, then whenever you like, you can call Foonz to start a group conference call. 

Foonz then sends out a message to everyone in you invite group.  They send messages via text messages or by email or even by instant messaging services.

The members of your group can then call in to the number provided in the Foonz message notification.  When they call in they are joined to the group call.

Sign up for free at the foonz web site

Foonz has separate agreements with existing phone companies that covers the expense of the call, which is how they receive funding and keep their service free to the end user.  Foonz has a policy of not sharing or using your personal information nor that of your contacts, other than the occasional promotion for a new Foonz service or upgrade.

Foonz does push for users to utilize their cell phones, which seems to work best with their system allowing for users to automatically log in as soon as they phone into the system to establish a new call.  This does not stop the service from being available from any phone you may wish to utilize. 

Foonz is available for service in the US and abroad as well, however text message notifications to people in the intended conference group will only be delivered to US based cell phones.  That won’t stop notifications through IM or email.

There are many services that will charge $50 a month or more for similar functionality plus the foonz service can rapidly allow users to establish a conference call rapidly at anytime with out having to schedule the conference online or through outlook.  The convenience is fast, friendly and definitely geared towards spontaneous conversations of groups, associates or even friends just catching up with each other or hoping on the phone after an online conversation.

Page Popularity for Site: 11% [?]

Growthink has recently added some very useful web based tools on their new Business Planning Help Center section.  I’ve mapped out some of these tools which include their Start-Up Cost Calculator, Cash Flow Calulator, Discounted Cash Flow Calculator, and even a graphical Break Even Calculator. 

If you are looking for a little help in writing a business plan utilizing the tools below will help you develop a more comprehensive response within your plan.

They have also provided some excellent resources that include some sample business plans, a directory of of top venture capital and angel investor firms.  Plus they have a free Small Business class available and a calendar of key entreprenuerial events. 

Page Popularity for Site: 7% [?]

I covered ViaTalk the other day and completely missed a pretty cool service they have called BrainCasting.

BrainCast is in beta and basically its an online voice messaging service.  However, its got the potential to do a lot more than just that.

How it Works

You sign up for a quick and free account, providing a phone number that is allowed to call in messages, and an email account that will be notified whenever a message is recieved.

You then recieve a toll free (866) number that you can plug into your cell phone and save as a contact.  You call the number and a voice mail beep clicks off right away and you record a voice message.

The message is then saved online with BrainCast at ViaTalk and you can access it through the internet to listen to it with a program like MediaPlayer.

You can also forward messages from the online storage to any email address.

I find this pretty cool.  I think I can even incorporate this into my upcoming Podcast shows.  I can record a thought while I’m out and about, and then convert the wav file later and edit into my show.  The sound quality is excellent.

If you are keeping track of a project in MindManager you can even link to the files with the voice notes, and essentially maintain a voice message with your mapped out project.

Page Popularity for Site: 8% [?]

A good deal of VOIP hype centers around Skype and Vonage, but the truth is that there are many other providers that offer some very comprehensive packages at attractive prices and with extra solid service packages.

ViaTalk provides internet phone service at rates that start out at $10 per month to $200 year for service that starts off with 500 minutes of calls per month all the way up to unlimited calls and a large set of features.

These plans like their competitors cover calls in the US and in Canada and ViaTalk is currently offering a 6 month free service plan, which as of today (Nov 7) actually makes the plan more attractive than Skype’s free offer, which expires in 2 months at the end of the year.

They also offer broadband phone service plans for businesses with rates based on the term of contracts.  Contract time frames can be as short as 1 month or extend out 24 months with rates that run from $35/ month down to $30/month respectively.

Page Popularity for Site: 9% [?]